Sainsbury’s boss Coupe needs to show improvement with results due

Inside Business: The City isn’t expecting much but last week’s Kantar figures offered some limited grounds for optimism

Reasons to be cheerful: Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe is preparing to unveil the group’s first quarter results (Reuters)

Can Mike Coupe serve up a surprise on Wednesday when the Sainsbury’s CEO is due to unveil the grocer’s first quarter results?

The City doesn’t seem to think there’s much chance of the rain cloud that’s hung over its London HQ since the collapse of its attempt to merge Asda going anywhere.

The shares have been dining on Pedigree Chum rather than Taste the Difference in recent months, with these dogs of the grocery sector currently languishing at close to 30-year lows.